So you have an iPad and now you’re planning to buy an Apple Watch to add a smart wearable device to the mix. Unfortunately, if you want to know how to connect Apple Watch to iPad, bad news awaits you: you can’t.
In short, the Apple Watch will not work with an iPad. To use Apple Watch, you must have an iPhone. The Apple Watch is incompatible with the iPad and you can’t link them together. You can’t even find the Watch app in the iPad App Store. Apple made sure that the app stays away from all non-iPhone app stores.
Connect Apple Watch to iPad
Apple Watch is designed to be used together with the iPhone. However, there is no technological explanation for why the Apple Watch can’t work with iPadOS like it does with iOS. For Apple, the current restrictions on the Apple Watch enhance the experience of using it alongside an iPhone.
However, use of an Apple Watch without iPhone won’t be possible until Apple Watch with GPS + cellular connectivity can achieve all-day performance while using a cellular network, which is expected to be available soon. Only then will the Apple Watch handle phone calls, text messages and all the other functions an iPhone now requires while being independent of the phone.
Even if you don’t have an iPhone, there are a number of things you can do with your Apple Watch.
Use Apple Watch without iPhone
An Apple Watch model with GPS + cellular connectivity is required to use your Apple Watch without taking your iPhone with you. You will be able to answer phone calls, receive text messages and stream music on your watch face. However, this will reduce the battery life of the watch and should not be used for long periods.
Apple Watch, on the other hand, is capable of performing certain functions when it’s not connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth or mobile data:
- Count your steps.
- Take a reading of your pulse.
- Check your sleep patterns.
- Provides calorie burn estimates for a few different activities.
- Use Passport and Apple Pay.
- Set a timer or an alarm.
- Be used as a stopwatch.
- Use an electrical heart sensor and ECG app to track your heart rate (Apple Watch Series 3 and later).
- Play music. Up to 2 gigabytes of music can be streamed to Bluetooth headphones using the Apple Watch’s built-in storage.
If you previously connected to the same Wi-Fi network using your iPhone and Apple Watch, you can now use your Apple Watch to connect to the Internet.
If you don’t have an iPhone to run third-party (non-Apple) apps, you can still use them.
How to connect Apple Watch to iPhone
iPhone and Apple Watch are meant to work seamlessly together. Using the Watch app on your iPhone, you can set up your Apple Watch by installing apps, changing watch faces, and choosing from the biggest Apple Watch complications. You must have an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 13 or later to install watchOS 6 on an Apple Watch.
How to pair Apple Watch with iPhone
1- Wear Apple Watch on your wrist.
2- Now, press and hold the side (dial) button on the watch until the screen lights up with the Apple logo.
3- Take your iPhone and place it closer to Apple Watch.
4- Your Apple Watch pairing screen will now appear on the iPhone. You need to tap Continue. 5- 5-5- Alternatively, you can open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap Pair New Watch.
5- Now, you need to tap on the Set for myself option.
6- When you see the message, place your iPhone near the wearable device so that Apple Watch appears in the viewfinder and successfully pairs the two devices.
7- Now, tap on Set Up Apple Watch and follow each step prompted on your iPhone and Apple Watch to finish the setup.
Which iPhones and iOS versions are supported
Here’s a rundown of the iPhone and iOS versions that are compatible with the Apple Watch.
First generation Apple Watch
It was released in early 2015 with a black and white band for a gold or pink watch face. Some models are available for less than $100. However, they do not have GPS.
If you have an iPhone 5 or later and are running iOS 8.2 or later, you can use the first-generation Apple Watch.
Apple Watch series 1
Apple Watch Series 1 was introduced in 2016 and had fewer cosmetic and GPS options. An iPhone 5 or later with at least iOS 11 is required to use Apple Watch Series 1.
Apple Watch Series 2
Apple Watch Series 2 debuted in 2016. It was the first Apple Watch to include GPS and be waterproof to a depth of 50 meters. If you have an iPhone 5 or later, with at least iOS 11 loaded, you can use the new Apple Watch Series 2.
Apple Watch Series 3
Incluso ahora, la Serie 3 está disponible para su compra. Es la opción menos costosa, pero también ofrece menos funciones.
Cuando salió por primera vez el Apple Watch Series 3, podías comprar uno con conectividad celular, lo que te permitía enviar mensajes de texto y hacer llamadas telefónicas incluso cuando no estaba cerca de tu iPhone. La variante celular del reloj ya no está disponible a través de Apple, aunque se puede comprar a través de distribuidores externos.
Se requiere un iPhone 6s o posterior con iOS 14 o posterior para usar el Apple Watch Series 3. El iPhone 6 y las versiones anteriores de iOS pueden funcionar con ciertos dispositivos usados más antiguos, pero esto no es seguro.
Apple Watch Series 4
En 2018 se introdujeron una versión celular y otra no celular de la Serie 4. Se requiere iOS 12 o posterior para usar el Apple Watch Serie 4.
Apple Watch Series 5
La pantalla Retina con brillo «siempre encendido» debutó en la Serie 5 y luego se usó en la Serie 6. Se requiere un iPhone 6s o posterior con iOS 13 o posterior para usar este Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Series 6
El modelo actual más caro es la Serie 6, que cuesta $399. A quienes se centren en su salud les gustará el control del nivel de oxígeno en la sangre de este modelo y la aplicación de ECG integrada. Se requiere un iPhone 6s o posterior con iOS 14 o posterior para usar este Apple Watch.
Apple Watch SE
Muchas de las funciones del Apple Watch de la Serie 6 están disponibles en el SE, pero a un precio más bajo de $279. Se requiere un iPhone 6s o posterior con iOS 14 o posterior para usar este Apple Watch.